Neighbors, DNA expert take stand in Tara Baker murder trial
Tara Baker murder trial day 3
Neighbors and a forensic expert took the stand in Day 3 of Tara Baker's murder trial. Neighbors testified they aw suspicious man in the area around the time Baker was murdered.
ATHENS, Ga. - Wednesday marked the third day of the murder trial for Edrick Faust, the man accused of killing University of Georgia law student Tara Baker more than two decades ago. Neighbors who witnessed a "suspicious man" and DNA experts took the stand for the prosecution.
Murder of Tara Baker
The backstory:
The trial follows the January 2001 discovery of Baker's body inside her burned Athens-area apartment. Investigators previously determined that the fire had been intentionally set and ruled her death a homicide. Despite the decades-long investigation, it would take until 2024 to arrest Faust, who is now facing trial for the crime.
Fire expert testimony
What we know:
The trial began Wednesday around 9:30 a.m. with an engineer discussing fire tests and how they applied to the scene where Tara Baker's body was found. Before the engineer could get too deep into testimony, the defense asked for a mistrial based off of an image shown to the jury of the burned building. The defense called it improper evidence. However, the judge denied the request and said the photo was a "demonstrative aide" that will not go back to the jury.
The fire expert went on to testify that he believes the fire was started by someone placing a blanket on the stove and then moving the blanket to a bedroom, where the fire started on the bed.
The defense's cross-examination focused on the studies used to back up this finding, specifically about the size of the home and how it differed from the home where Baker was found. The expert said that size wouldn't affect the outcomes.
‘Suspicious person’ spotted
What they're saying:
Karen Williams, who spoke with police following Baker's murder, took the stand next.
Prosecutors called her because she and her then-husband were in the area around Baker's house when they believe she was murdered. Williams' then-husband was a tow truck driver and they were in the area towing a car. She told police she saw a man "acting suspiciously" in the area. In a recording from 2001, she referred to the person as a Black male in his late teens or early 20s, around 5'7" and was "big boned" with a "full face." The recording was played for the jury where she said the man walked past her tow truck in a bright orange jacket or sweatshirt.
After the recording was played, the prosecution entered a sketch from 2001 that they said was drawn by a sketch artist on Jan. 27, 2001 based off Williams' description.
The sketch based off Willliams' description.
The defense's cross-examination centered around the "suspicious" man's behavior. They asked if he tried to avoid being seen or if he ever ran, and Williams answered "no" to both questions.
The defense also tried to impeach her testimony by saying the image based off her description didn't show a "big-boned" person. He also questioned her about the exact details she gave, and she said she didn't recall.
Multiple neighbors also discussed a suspicious person they saw in the Deer Park neighborhood around the time of the fire. They described the man wearing the same clothes but said he was walking.
One neighbor, Kelli Shroder, worked with a sketch artist to create a sketch of the man she saw. She said she wasn't asked super specific questions about the man's facial structure, but she believes the sketch matches her description.
The sketch based off Shroder's description.
Shroder said the neighborhood was often used as a cut through to get to a nearby Walmart, but didn't often see people early in the morning. Shroder said the man stopped to let her back out of her driveway and didn't try to hide his face.
Ahmad Crews, the attorney for Faust, tried to use the recording to "impeach" Shroder's testimony twice, but the judge didn't allow him after the prosecuting attorney. After the second time, Crews asked for a mistrial and said, "This trial has been worse than practicing in communist Russia. (Faust) doesn't stand a chance."
DNA expert testifies
What they're saying:
Former GBI criminologist Jennifer Coursey testified about her experience with DNA and when she processed DNA from the Baker crime scene.
Coursey, who now works for the Army Criminal Investigation Division, explained what DNA is and then discussed processing blood and DNA from the sexual assault kit performed on Baker and knives found at the crime scene. She said specifically that DNA processing has improved in the decades since the crime scene, and that the technology to process the DNA has improved.
The defense questioned Coursey about the evidence chain of custody and how the evidence was handled after it was gathered.
Tara Baker trial days 1 and 2
Dig deeper:
Jury selection concluded on Monday followed by opening statements. While the week began with brief testimony, the bulk of the evidence was presented Tuesday through somber forensic accounts from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) medical examiner. Jurors were shown graphic evidence of the injuries Baker sustained, including blunt force trauma and a stab wound, though the medical examiner ultimately determined the cause of death was strangulation with a printer cord.
While the defense raised objections regarding the labeling of DNA swabs, Chief Judge Lisa Lott allowed the evidence, noting the examiner's testimony that the processing integrity remained intact. An Athens-Clarke County investigator further detailed the scene, presenting photos of a damaged door and a knife found directly next to the body.
The proceedings took an emotional turn as Katherine Lahnstein, a friend and fellow law student, testified about her final interactions with Baker at the library and their last phone call. Beyond the witness testimony, courtroom tension persisted between Judge Lott and defense attorney Ahmad R. Crews. Following a $1,000 contempt fine issued to Crews on Monday for referencing restricted evidence, the two clashed again on Tuesday regarding professional courtesies and the filing of appropriate motions.
Edrick Faust murder trial
What's next:
The trial is expected to resume at 9 a.m. Thursday for Day 5. FOX 5 will be streaming it live.
The judge has not said how long she believes the trial will last, but it appears it will go into a second week since the defense has yet to begin presenting its case.
The Source: Information in this article comes from FOX 5's Sam Daniel and Tyler Fingert watching the proceedings. It also includes past reporting from FOX 5.